I got the Everburn Blade on my first Nautiloid run, and I’ll tell you exactly how I did it. This flaming greatsword deals 2d6 slashing plus 1d4 fire; it’s available very early and can carry a melee build through Act 1 if you know the trick. You can get it within the tutorial—often under 30 minutes of play—if you play smart.
Quick note: when I tested this on 2025-04-14 the encounter behaved the same as in previous builds, but results can vary by patch. This doesn’t always work the same on every save; there are exceptions depending on party composition and a bit of RNG.
Where Zhalk shows up
Commander Zhalk is in the Nautiloid helm room during the final part of the tutorial. You’ll reach a big chamber with tentacles, fire on the floor, and a Mind Flayer already fighting him. Zhalk is the red-skinned cambion with the flaming sword. You get roughly 15 turns before the ship crashes, so you need to hurry.
Don’t assume you can go back. Once you enter the helm room you can’t return to earlier ship areas—loot first and have Shadowheart in your party (if you want heals). By the way, that’s critical.
Prep that matters
In my experience, having Shadowheart helps a lot. Her healing and Command spell are the clearest shortcuts here. Also bring any emergency potions and scrolls you’ve found.
Short checklist:
- Shadowheart present (healer + Command).
- Good positioning items or movement options.
- Some crowd control or ranged options.
(If you don’t have Shadowheart, you can still do it—just expect more chaos.)
Core strategy — you don’t have to kill Zhalk yourself
The Mind Flayer is effectively your temporary ally. Let it do the heavy hitting; your job is to help it win or to make Zhalk drop the blade. You only need Zhalk to die or to drop the sword while you’re close enough to loot it.
- Enter and take a tactical position. Keep melee folks mobile; keep Shadowheart safe but in range.
- Conserve healing for key moments. Use ranged attacks to harass Zhalk instead of trading heavy hits.
- When the Mind Flayer is low, heal it or finish Zhalk quickly so you can loot.
Time is the real enemy here. Focus on efficiency—use your resources. You’ll get a full rest after the crash sequence, so burn what you need to win.
Command Drop and other tricks
My favorite low-risk option: Shadowheart’s Command with “Drop.” If Zhalk fails his save, he drops the sword and you grab it. It feels a bit cheap, and yes, some players call that exploitative—controversial, I know—but it works.
- Position Shadowheart within 30 feet.
- Cast Command → Drop.
- If Zhalk drops it, sprint in and loot, then go to the transponder.
Here’s the exact DC math to check (so you know why it works):
Spell save DC = 8 + proficiency + Wisdom mod
Example: 8 + 2 + 3 = 13Zhalk needs to roll under that on his Wisdom save. If you like numbers, this is the moment to calculate odds.
Other viable methods:
- Heat Metal (Bard/Druid) — can force a drop.
- Disarming Attack (Battle Master) — martial option.
- Mage Hand Legerdemain or Telekinesis — steal or move the blade if you have those tools.
These require class choices or items, so they aren’t universal. They do, however, avoid a straight brawl.
Who should use the Everburn Blade?
The blade is a two-handed greatsword; you need proficiency and decent Strength. It pairs very well with classes that can multiply weapon hits.
| Class | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Fighter | Action Surge and Great Weapon style make big swings very reliable |
| Paladin | Divine Smite pairs perfectly for burst single-target damage |
| Barbarian | Rage adds consistent extra damage; Brutal Critical is spicy later |
Feats to consider at level 4: Great Weapon Master or an Ability Score Improvement to push STR to 18+. I’ve noticed Great Weapon Master is polarizing—some players swear by it; others say it makes fights swingy. Which side are you on?
Quick pro tips (from my runs)
“If you’re going for the blade, prioritize getting Shadowheart in. It’s the simplest path to success.”
- Position for line-of-sight but avoid AoE that hits the Mind Flayer.
- Keep someone ready to dash and loot once Zhalk drops or dies.
- If the Mind Flayer dies early, be prepared to finish Zhalk quickly—don’t get boxed in.
Oddly enough, the easiest method can feel unsatisfying to some players. To be fair, sometimes satisfying play and efficient play don’t match.
Counterintuitive insight
Here’s something people miss: picking up the blade early can make normal encounters less fun because it amplifies brute-force solutions. If you prefer tactical combat, skip it until you need it. Seriously—try that once!
Final thoughts
Honestly, failing to get the Everburn Blade isn’t the end. Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you plenty of options past the tutorial. But if you want the blade early, Shadowheart + Command is the most consistent route (and it saved my run on 2025-04-14). Good luck, and watch your turns—15 is a hard limit!
Questions? Ask me which exact class combo you’re running and I’ll suggest a tailored approach—between us, I love this kind of min-maxing. 🎲🔥
